法政匯思就鍾樹根、何俊賢議員在2015年7月15日立法會教育事務委員會發表毫無根據的言論的聲明 (Statement in relation to Groundless Comments by Legislators Christopher Chung and Steven Ho during a Legislative Council Education Panel Meeting on 15 July 2015)

1. Today’s Legislative Council Education Panel meeting discussed the Government’s Basic Law multimedia teaching materials (“Materials”). At that time, the following two legislators criticised the reports on the Materials by the Professional Teachers Union and the Progressive Lawyers Group dated 12 July 2015 (“Reports”):

(a) Christopher Chung: “… Progressive Lawyers Group, some of the lawyers did things which damaged the law during the illegal occupation of Central campaign… They speak of wrong as if right, they themselves did illegal things, and they speak as if they were just…”

(b) Steven Ho: “… Just as some other members of the Legislative Council have said, that Progressive Lawyers Group, many [of them] participated in the illegal occupation of Central, they themselves are doing things to damage the rule of law…”

2. Hong Kong is a diverse society, and it is normal for different people to have different views on public issues. When we issued the Report in the spirit of dealing with matters of substance, we knew that there would be different responses within society. On public issues of concern to the people, we absolutely welcome different voices to discuss the substance of the issues with us.

3. Sadly, some politicians do not wish to, are not willing to, cannot or do not know how to engage in rational discussion of public issues. They choose instead to use defamatory words to make unwarranted rants. The Progressive Lawyers Group expresses its deep disappointment in relation to the baseless and contentless remarks by Christopher Chung and Steven Ho. We note that Mr Chung and Mr Ho have failed to identify a single instance in which the Progressive Lawyers Group has broken the law or encouraged others to do so.

4. The Progressive Lawyers Group will, in accordance with our professional integrity and knowledge, continue to speak out and making constructive and specific comments on issues that are of general public concern. We have faith in the people of Hong Kong’s judgment. On the question of who is taking the high road of tackling matters of substance, and who is taking the low road of engaging in unwarranted rants, the answer is clear for all to see.